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From Lists of Note:
Orwell's Rules for Writers
In 1946, George Orwell published 'Politics and the English Language,' an essay in which he criticises the bad habits of many writers and promotes the use of clear, unfussy language wherever possible. Towards the end of the essay, Orwell provides the following list of rules for writers.(Source: Politics and the English Language; Image: Orwell at work, via.)
- Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
- Never use a long word where a short one will do.
- If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
- Never use the passive where you can use the active.
- Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
- Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Hemingway's Favourites
In the February 1935 issue of Esquire magazine, an article by Ernest Hemingway appeared that was titled 'Remembering Shooting-Flying: A Key West Letter.' In it, Hemingway reeled off 17 books, all of which he "would rather read again for the first time […] than have an assured income of a million dollars a year."
That list can be read below.
Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy
Far Away and Long Ago, by W. H. Hudson
Buddenbrooks, by Thomas Mann
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë
Madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert
War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy
A Sportsman's Sketches, by Ivan Turgenev
The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Hail and Farewell, by George Moore
Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Winesburg, Ohio, by Sherwood Anderson
La Reine Margot, by Alexandre Dumas
La Maison Tellier, by Guy de Maupassant
Le Rouge et le Noir, by Stendhal
La Chartreuse de Parme, by Stendhal
Dubliners, by James Joyce
Autobiographies, by W. B. Yeats
The problem is one of illiteracy, not Marxism
Early-1966, believing its contents to be "immoral," the Hanover County School Board in Virginia decided to remove all copies of Harper Lee's classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, from the county's school libraries. As soon as she was alerted, Lee responded perfectly by way of the following letter, written to, and later published in, The Richmond News Leader.
Also sent, as mentioned in the letter, was a contribution to the Beadle Bumble Fund — a project set up by the newspaper in 1959 to highlight/compensate for "official stupidities," and which subsequently gave away copies of the banned book to all children who asked.
(Source: Understanding To Kill a Mockingbird; Image: Harper Lee, via.)
Monroeville, Alabama
January, 1966
Editor, The News Leader:
Recently I have received echoes down this way of the Hanover County School Board's activities, and what I've heard makes me wonder if any of its members can read.
Surely it is plain to the simplest intelligence that "To Kill a Mockingbird" spells out in words of seldom more than two syllables a code of honor and conduct, Christian in its ethic, that is the heritage of all Southerners. To hear that the novel is "immoral" has made me count the years between now and 1984, for I have yet to come across a better example of doublethink.
I feel, however, that the problem is one of illiteracy, not Marxism. Therefore I enclose a small contribution to the Beadle Bumble Fund that I hope will be used to enroll the Hanover County School Board in any first grade of its choice.
Harper Lee
You must deliver marketable goods
Late-1914, an aspiring young writer named Max Fedder sent a copy of his manuscript, "A Journal of One Who Is to Die," to Jack London, the author responsible for such works as The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and, most relevantly, Martin Eden — the bleak story of a young man battling to become a writer.
The brutally honest response he received can be seen below.
(Source: No Mentor but Myself: Jack London on Writing and Writers; Image: Jack London, via Answers.)
Oakland, Calif.
Oct. 26, 1914
Dear Max Fedder:
In reply to yours of recent date undated, and returning herewith your Manuscript. First of all, let me tell you that as a psychologist and as one who has been through the mill, I enjoyed your story for its psychology and point of view. Honestly and frankly, I did not enjoy it for its literary charm or value. In the first place, it has little literary value and practically no literary charm. Merely because you have got something to say that may be of interest to others does not free you from making all due effort to express that something in the best possible medium and form. Medium and form you have utterly neglected.
Anent the foregoing paragraph, what is to be expected of any lad of twenty, without practice, in knowledge of medium and form? Heavens on earth, boy, it would take you five years to serve your apprenticeship and become a skilled blacksmith. Will you dare to say that you have spent, not five years, but as much as five months of unimpeachable, unremitting toil in trying to learn the artisan's tools of a professional writer who can sell his stuff to the magazines and receive hard cash for same? Of course you cannot; you have not done it: And yet, you should be able to reason on the face of it that the only explanation for the fact that successful writers receive such large fortunes is because very few who desire to write become successful writers. If it takes five years work to become a skilled blacksmith, how many years of work intensified into nineteen hours a day, so that one year counts for five-how many years of such work, studying medium and form, art and artisanship, do you think a man, with native talent and something to say, required in order to reach a place in the world of letters where he received a thousand dollars cash iron money per week?
I think you get the drift of the point I am trying to make. If a fellow harnesses himself to a star of $1000 week, he has to work proportionately harder than if he harnesses himself to a little glowworm of $20.00 a week. The only reason there are more successful blacksmiths in the world than successful writers, is that it is much easier, and requires far less hard work to become a successful blacksmith than does it to become a successful writer.
It cannot be possible that you, at twenty, should have done the work at writing that would merit you success at writing. You have not begun your apprenticeship yet. The proof of it is the fact that you dared to write this manuscript, "A Journal of One Who Is to Die." Had you made any sort of study of what is published in the magazines you would have found that your short story was of the sort that never was published in the magazines. If you are going to write for success and money, you must deliver to the market marketable goods. Your short story is not marketable goods, and had you taken half a dozen evenings off and gone into a free reading room and read all the stories published in the current magazines, you would have learned in advance that your short story was not marketable goods.
Any time you are out here in California, I should be glad to have you come to visit me on the ranch. I can meet you to the last limit of brass tacks, and hammer some facts of life into you that possibly so far have escaped your own experience.
Sincerely yours,
Jack London
1984 v. Brave New World
In October of 1949, a few months after the release of George Orwell'sdystopian masterpiece, Nineteen Eighty-Four, he received a fascinating letter from fellow author Aldous Huxley — a man who, 17 years previous, had seen his own nightmarish vision of society published, in the form of Brave New World. What begins as a letter of praise soon becomes a brief comparison of the two novels, and an explanation as to why Huxley believes his own, earlier work to be a more realistic prediction.
Trivia: In 1917, long before he wrote this letter, Aldous Huxley briefly taught Orwell French at Eton.
(Source: Letters of Aldous Huxley; Image: George Orwell (via) & Aldous Huxley (via).)
Wrightwood. Cal.
21 October, 1949
Dear Mr. Orwell,
It was very kind of you to tell your publishers to send me a copy of your book. It arrived as I was in the midst of a piece of work that required much reading and consulting of references; and since poor sight makes it necessary for me to ration my reading, I had to wait a long time before being able to embark on Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Agreeing with all that the critics have written of it, I need not tell you, yet once more, how fine and how profoundly important the book is. May I speak instead of the thing with which the book deals — the ultimate revolution? The first hints of a philosophy of the ultimate revolution — the revolution which lies beyond politics and economics, and which aims at total subversion of the individual's psychology and physiology — are to be found in the Marquis de Sade, who regarded himself as the continuator, the consummator, of Robespierre and Babeuf. The philosophy of the ruling minority in Nineteen Eighty-Four is a sadism which has been carried to its logical conclusion by going beyond sex and denying it. Whether in actual fact the policy of the boot-on-the-face can go on indefinitely seems doubtful. My own belief is that the ruling oligarchy will find less arduous and wasteful ways of governing and of satisfying its lust for power, and these ways will resemble those which I described in Brave New World. I have had occasion recently to look into the history of animal magnetism and hypnotism, and have been greatly struck by the way in which, for a hundred and fifty years, the world has refused to take serious cognizance of the discoveries of Mesmer, Braid, Esdaile, and the rest.
Partly because of the prevailing materialism and partly because of prevailing respectability, nineteenth-century philosophers and men of science were not willing to investigate the odder facts of psychology for practical men, such as politicians, soldiers and policemen, to apply in the field of government. Thanks to the voluntary ignorance of our fathers, the advent of the ultimate revolution was delayed for five or six generations. Another lucky accident was Freud's inability to hypnotize successfully and his consequent disparagement of hypnotism. This delayed the general application of hypnotism to psychiatry for at least forty years. But now psycho-analysis is being combined with hypnosis; and hypnosis has been made easy and indefinitely extensible through the use of barbiturates, which induce a hypnoid and suggestible state in even the most recalcitrant subjects.
Within the next generation I believe that the world's rulers will discover that infant conditioning and narco-hypnosis are more efficient, as instruments of government, than clubs and prisons, and that the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging and kicking them into obedience. In other words, I feel that the nightmare of Nineteen Eighty-Four is destined to modulate into the nightmare of a world having more resemblance to that which I imagined in Brave New World. The change will be brought about as a result of a felt need for increased efficiency. Meanwhile, of course, there may be a large scale biological and atomic war — in which case we shall have nightmares of other and scarcely imaginable kinds.
Thank you once again for the book.
Yours sincerely,
Aldous Huxley
I am your fellow man, but not your slave
In September of 1848, the incredible Frederick Douglass wrote the following open letter to Thomas Auld — a man who, until a decade previous, had been Douglass' slave master for many years — and published it in North Star, the newspaper he himself founded in 1847. In the letter, Douglass writes of his twenty years as a slave; his subsequent escape and new life; and then enquires about his siblings, presumably still "owned" by his old master. He even asks Auld to imagine his own daughter as a slave.
It's a lengthy letter, but perfectly written and such a valuable read. The final paragraph is also exquisite.
(Source: The Frederick Douglass Papers; Image below via Library of Congress; Image above, of Frederick Douglass, c.1874, via Wikipedia.)


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Mon 8 Jul 2013
Should ethnographies have an expiration date?
Posted by Ed under Academia, Adaptation, Climate Change, Delivering Development, development, Development Institutions, Higher Education, policy, research
Comments Off on Should ethnographies have an expiration date?
Ok, so that title was meant to goad my fellow anthropologists, but before everyone freaks out, let me explain what I mean. The best anthropology, to quote Marshall Sahlins, "consists of making the apparently wild thought of others logically compelling in their own cultural settings and intellectually revealing of the human condition." This is, of course, not bound by time. Understanding the thought of others, wherever and whenever it occurs, helps to illuminate the human condition. In that sense, ethnographies are forever.
However, in the context of development and climate change, ethnography has potential value beyond this very broad goal. The understandings of human behavior produced through ethnographic research are critical to the achievement of the most noble and progressive goals of development*. As I have argued time and again, we understand far less about what those in the Global South are doing than we think, and I wrote a book highlighting how our assumptions about life in such places are a) mostly incorrect and b) potentially very dangerous to the long-term well-being of everyone on Earth. To correct this problem, development research, design, and monitoring and evaluation all need much, much more engagement with qualitative research, including ethnographic work. Such work brings a richness to our understanding of other people, and lives in other places, that is invaluable to the design of progressive programs and projects that meet the actual (as opposed to assumed) needs of the global poor now and in the future.
As I see it, the need for ethnographic work in development presents two significant problems. The first, which I have discussed before, is the dearth of such work in the world. Everyone seems to think the world is crawling with anthropologists and human geographers who do this sort of work, but how many books and dissertations are completed each year? A thousand? Less? Compare that to the two billion (or more) poor people living in low-income countries (and that leaves aside the billion or so very poor that Andy Sumner has identified as living in middle-income countries). A thousand books for at least two billion people? No problem, it just means that each book or dissertation has to cover the detailed experiences, motivations, and emotions of two million people. I mean, sure, the typical ethnography addresses an N that ranges from a half dozen to communities of a few hundred, but surely we can just adjust the scale…
OK, so there is a huge shortage of this work, and we need much, much more of it. Well, the good new is that people have been doing this sort of work for a long time. Granted, the underlying assumptions about other people have shifted over time ("scientific racism" was pretty much the norm back in the first half of the 20th Century), but surely the observations of human behavior and thought might serve to fill the gaps from which we currently suffer, right. After all, if a thousand people a year knocked out a book or dissertation over the past hundred years, surely our coverage will improve. Right?
Well, maybe not. Ethnographies describe a place and a time, and most of the Global South is changing very, very rapidly. Indeed, it has been changing for a while, but of late the pace of change seems to be accelerating (again, see Sumner's work on the New Bottom Billion). Things change so quickly, and can change so pervasively, that I wonder how long it takes for many of the fundamental observations about life and thought that populate ethnographies to become historical relics that tell us a great deal about a bygone era, but do not reflect present realities. For example, in my work in Ghana, I drew upon some of the very few ethnographies of the Akan, written during the colonial era. These were useful for the archaeological component of my work, as they helped me to contextualize artifacts I was recovering from the time of those ethnographies. But their descriptions of economic practice, local politics, social roles, and livelihoods really had very little to do with life in Ghana's Central Region in the late 1990s. In terms of their utility for interpreting contemporary life among the Akan, they had, for all intents and purposes, expired.
So, the questions I pose here:
1) How do we know when an ethnography has expired? Is it expired when any aspect of the ethnography is no longer true, or when a majority of its observations no longer hold?
2) Whatever standard we might hold them to, how long does it take to reach that standard? Five years? Ten years? Thus far, my work from 2001 in Ghana seems to be holding, but things are wobbling a bit. It is possible that a permanent shift in livelihoods took place in 2006 (I need to examine this), which would invalidate the utility of my earlier work for project design in this area.
These are questions worth debating. If we are to bring more qualitative, ethnographic work to the table in development, we have to find ways to improve our coverage of the world and our ability to assess the resources from which we might draw.
*I know some people think that "noble" and "progressive" are terms that cannot be applied to development. I'm not going to take up that debate here.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Furiends! Today is a very exciting day! I'm so happy to tell you that thanks to some very generous humans over at Waterstones.com there's a great opportunity for you to buy my book at a pawesome price! If you follow the link to my book on Waterstones here. Then all you need to do is use the code BB2014 in the online checkout and you will be entitled to £2 off the recommended retail price. All orders to the UK are delivered free. Waterstones.com also deliver throughout Europe (although there's a small fee). As with all things that involve humans there are a few terms and conditions but they're fairly straightforward.
Waterstones.com Terms and Conditions
Discount code BB2014 entitles you to buy Bailey Boat Cat (isbn 9781472906502) by Louise Kennedy for £6.99 (RRP £8.99) at Waterstones.com. Discount code is valid from 21/03/2013 to midday 31/05/2014. Discount code cannot be used with any other voucher or coupon. Discount code can only be used at time of purchase and not retrospectively. This voucher can only be used on Waterstones.com and not in Waterstones stores. All prices on Waterstones.com are online only and may differ from Waterstones stores. Voucher Code not valid on Reserve and Collect.
I think you'll agree this is very kind of Waterstones and I'm very grateful and happy that all my European furiends can benefit from this fantastic offer. (My furiends further afield I've not forgotten you and paws crossed we can figure something out nearer the publication date in your countries.)
If like me you're super excited and can't wait to see the book on the 24th of April then I have a little treat for you now! I made my first ever video… It's a trailer for my book!
What do you think? I'd really appreciate it if you could please share it with all of your furiends!
I hope you all have a pawesome weekend!
Bisous Bailey


text:
we are happy to present you yet another updated version of our beloved eMule. If we would name our versions instead of giving them plain version numbers, the name of the 0.49 series would be something like "Kad Love". Well probably not, because it doesn't sounds very imaginative, but I hope you get the idea : eMule 0.49 concentrates on improving Kad making it more stable, reliable and future proof. Of course other areas got some attention too:
The mainfeatures of this version are
- Major Kad protocol improvements, like kad obfuscation, better NAT handling, direct callbacks, flood protections, etc.
- Several changes to the message system to get rid of spammers (by Captchas) and stay in touch with friends with dynamic IPs
- Several GUI improvements like storing searches between eMule sessions, a searchfilter for shared files and easier access to the comment filter
- And as always fixing bugs and adding other small changes
Win9x users only:
The following has to be installed on Win9x/ME only -- it enables the Unicode functionality for eMule on those OSes.
Microsoft Layer for Unicode on Windows 95/98/ME Systems (MSLU) version 1.0
So - download the new eMule client - and have fun.
Your eMule-Team
- May, 8. 2008 -
.: If extended controls are enabled (and if available) Kad search results show the amount of known unique publishers for a file in parentheses in the availability column (this isn't equal to sources, but it is a bit more trustworthy indicator how common a file is).
.: Updated CxImage lib to the latest version (6.0), fixes some image processing vulnability (low risk for eMule) [reported: Steve Manzuik/Juniper Networks]
.: Fixed Unicode issue in stored and loading searches
.: DirectCallback sources are now properly added to and checked against the deadsource list
0.49a BETA3
- May, 5. 2008 -
.: Made sure to always use the intern UDP port if both (intern and extern) ports succeed in the firewall test
.: Control chars are now filtered out of ed2k-links / received filenames [eklmn]
.: Fixed a small bug with handling removed category directories on startup [tHeWiZaRdOfDoS]
.: Changed installer to set the currently used shared usage setting as default if available
- May, 3. 2008 -
.: Fixed another bug in the new UDP firewalltest, causing it to fail for results on the extern UDP port and for unreachable clients
.: Captchas can consist of numbers now too (except 0)
.: Fixed a smaller issue with finding and connecting to a buddy
.: Buddy search interval has been reduced, to increase the chance to find a buddy without waiting too long
- May, 1. 2008 -
.: Changed the Crypt functions a bit for faster processing [netfinity]
0.49a BETA2
- Apr, 29. 2008 -
.: Fixed some rare bug which could cause rerequesting already transferred (buffered) data [tHeWiZaRdOfDoS]
.: Tweaked UPnP a bit to support some more routers [leuk_he]
.: Updated libpng to the most current version 1.2.27
- Apr, 27. 2008 -
.: Changed the kad tcp firewalltest protocol to make it possible to archive the tcp open state if the UDP port is firewalled
.: Each dialog (kad, server, etc) has now its own "doorway" helptopic which eMule shows when pressing F1 or the Helpbutton, instead of only calling the helpindex
- Apr, 23. 2008 -
.: Fixed two bugs in the new kad firewalltesting which may lead to wrong results [tHeWiZaRdOfDoS]
.: eMule now supports ed2k-links for downloading the nodes.dat from an URL. A link to a nodes.dat should look this way: ed2k://|nodeslist|http://domain/nodes.dat|/
.: Fixed two minor display bugs realted to the waiting queue and the requests statistics for files [tHeWiZaRdOfDoS]
- Apr, 20. 2008 -
.: Loading stored kad keywords and sources has been moved into a seperate thread to avoid interface lockups, while the data is loading
.: Kad (tcp)firewalltest and buddy tcp connection now properly support protocol obfuscation too, on require obfuscation setting those connections (and therefore its functionality) didn't worked before
- Apr, 15. 2008 -
.: Ctrl+W now closes the active searchtab in the search dialog
0.49a BETA1
- Apr, 12. 2008 -
.: Beta versions now create a small test text file which is shared by eMule to help us debugging protocol changes (esp Kad). On exit this file is deleted
.: Fixed a bug with the "Open Directory" menuitem in the shared files window [Stulle]
- Apr, 11. 2008 -
.: Added the obfuscation setting to the First Time wizard and removed the full chunk upload setting instead
.: Disabled peercache downloads by default (deprecated)
.: Added a Beta nagging dialog
- Apr, 6. 2008 -
.: Fixed several bugs in the new Kad firewall testing, obfuscation and direct callback functions
- Mar, 30. 2008 -
.: eMule is now aware of windows standby modes and reconnects after waking up [MorphXt]
- Mar, 18. 2008 -
.: Fixed: File tooltips used wrong font sizes when using customized Windows metrics.
.: Added: Support for using Windows default fonts for listview and treeview controls in eMule's main windows. This way one can specify larger fonts for almost all eMule lists via the Windows System Metrics. Specify "UseSystemFontForMainControls=1" in "preferences.ini" to enable.
.: Fixed: Shared directory treeview control lost icons after Windows System settings were changed.
.: Fixed: Wrong font mapping for some GUI elements in non-Western locales.
- Mar, 17. 2008 -
.: Fixed: Shared Files list did not show focus rectangle for listview items.
- Mar, 16. 2008 -
.: Fixed: "Search related Files" context menu entry in search results pane was not properly enabled/disabled [Tuxman]
.: Fixed: Memory corruption for column properties in WebServer [tHeWiZaRdOfDoS]
.: Fixed: Normalized search labels in WebServer [ducho]
.: Fixed: Some search results where still shown after invoking 'Close All Search Results' [bengarchy]
.: Fixed: Enabling/Disabling the "Queued Clients" and "Known Clients" lists did not always fill/clear the list views [Xman]
.: Fixed: Toolbars in Transfere window were not showing tooltips after enabling/disabling "Queued Clients" and/or "Known Clients".
- Mar, 15. 2008 -
.: Fixed some GDI resouce leaks. [Rapid_Mule]
.: Fxied a minor possible bug in creating random numbers [leuk_he]
.: Fxied a bug in the new store searches function [netfinity]
- Feb, 26. 2008 -
.: When deleting more than 50 files the first 50 names are shown in the confirmation dialog [tHeWiZaRdOfDoS]
.: Fixed a bug in finding the senders of corrupt data which may lead to false positives [DavidXanatos]
- Feb, 10. 2008 -
.: Kad will now enforce certain limits when adding new contacts to the routing table: No more than 1 KadNode per IP, 2 similar KadNodes (same bin) from a /24 network and max 10 different KadNodes from a /24 network are allowed. This is supposed to make routing attacks against kad more difficult / resource-intensive
You can still run more than one kad client from a single IP without any problems, they just don't become part of the internal kad routing but still work without any limitations.
- Feb, 3. 2008 -
.: The download comments dialog has now a direct possibility to edit the comment spam filter, changes are instantly applied to all existing comments
.: Clients which sent comments which get filtered by the comment spam filter are now treated like message spammers (banned)
.: The ed2k: in ed2k-links is no longer case sensitive
.: When connecting to Ed2K eMule starts with a random server instead using first on in the server.met. Any sorting, priority, etc. is not affected by this
- Feb, 1. 2008 -
.: Several changes have been made to improve kads resistance against malicious keyword publishing:
.: Kad now keeps track which filenames were published by different sources for the same file and uses the most common name (instead the last published one) when responding search requests
.: Same hashs (files) which have different filesizes are now properly stored seperatly instead overwriting eachother
.: Kad calculates a rating based on how many different sources publish a file and how many files publishes a source. When responding to a search request, files with a rating below a set limit will be sent last in order to avoid that spammed files push out valid ones.
.: The Kad rating for published files is also sent in search results to be used in the future version as indicator
- Jan, 16. 2008 -
.: Added a general anti-flood-protection to kad. If Kad receives more request of a specific type from one IP than it would expect, it starts ignoring those requests and envetually banning the source. This is supposed to avoid or slow down several attack scenarios.
.: Fixed a problem with injection of DNS servers into the routing tables which were able to stay because of a porotcol mixup between kad and dns. Old sources with port 53 as kad port are ignored, new clients (0.49a+) can use port 53 as kad port again but it is not recommended [found by netfinity]
.: Fixed a bug in kad2 with publishing >4GB files [netfinity]
- Jan, 11. 2008 -
.: If you select a non-default incoming directory which already contains files, eMule notices you that those files are automatically shared by eMule
- Jan, 8. 2008 -
.: Added a filter box (like in the search results) for on-the-fly filtering of shared files into the shared files tab. This filter is supposed to help finding specific shared files, it has no effect on which files are actually published
.: Rearranged the symbols in the shared files directory tree a bit
- Dec, 15. 2007 -
.: The onlinehelp for the options dialog is now topic sensitive for all languages instead only for english (well actually it is not, but this is serverside work which will be done step by step till the release). More areas to get topic sensitive to come in the future
.: Open searches are now stored if you close eMule and restored on restart. This way you don't have to research your favourite words in case you didn't get to finish looking at the results. Can be disabled in Options->Display
- Dec, 2. 2007 -
.: Reworked Kads Firewall handling and testing:
The kad firewall state is now split into TCP and UDP. The TCP state is basically the old state, which tests if your TCP port is reachable. The UDP state is new and checks if your UDP port is reachable. For example on Full Cone NAT Routers, without portforwarding you will get TCP firewalled (as before) but UDP open (new). If you have the UDP open state, eMule doesn't needs a buddy any longer and will fully participate in the KAD network and therefore take away the overhead they caused in earlier versions (you still cannot connect to other TCP firewalled clients if you are TCP firewalled yourself).
.: The new UDP state is shown in the MyInfo field in the Server Tab. As long as the UDP firewalltest is unfinished "(unverified)" is appended
.: Clients which have the Kad UDP open state, now support direct callbacks (invoked by an UDP packet) to connect to not firewalled clients. These callbacks are faster, more reliable and use less ressources than buddy or server callbacks.
.: The new firewall test also fixes a bug / design flaw which caused eMule to always use the use the clients source UDP port, instead testing if the internal set UDP port might be the propper choice instead. This was especially a problem on Restricted Cone Routers with PAT (Port Address Translation)
- Nov, 29. 2007 -
.: Fixed bug with possible wrong local IP address in case the "BindAddr" option is used.
.: Fixed bug with missing update of details of a selected friend in friends list.
- Nov, 24. 2007 -
.: Fixed bug in tooltips which were showing certain list items partially in bold.
- Nov, 19. 2007 -
.: Added missing Unicode support for 'Static Servers' feature.
- Nov, 12. 2007 -
.: Fixed several of our listcontrols to show Windows' context menu of scrollbars
.: Added an option (Options->General) to prevent Windows from going into standby mode while eMule is running (and doing something)
- Nov, 11. 2007 -
.: Fixed bug in IRC window with channel windows opening in reverse order.
.: Fixed bug with dead servers occasionally not deleted from GUI [fox88].
.: Fixed bug with disabled E-Mail notifications on particular Windows systems [Lewpy]
.: Added showing of IRC-warning and error messages to the active channel window.
.: Added auto-activating of private IRC channel windows when self-initiating the conversation.
.: Fixed bug with extra large icons in file tooltips.
.: Fixed bug with HTTP downloads which could create a crash in case the HD is full.
.: Fixed a memory leak with failed gzip'd HTTP downloads.
- Nov, 07. 2007 -
.: Fixed garbled display of HTTP download status information
- October, 31. 2007 -
.: The messagesystem is now able to find your friends even if their IP changed if you and they are in Kad and not firewalled. This will help to stay in contact with friends longer than one session (Only works for new added/new seen friends which have Kad enabled).
.: When messaging a friend, eMule now makes sure that the userhash still matches after connecting and SecureIdent (if enabled) is passed in order to ensure that its really your friend.
- October, 28. 2007 -
.: You can now bootstrap to kad from an URL which points to a nodes.dat file (in the Kad tab)
- October, 22. 2007 -
.: In order to reduce spam messages and by this make the messagesystem more useable again, eMule now supports Captcha authentification:
If enabled, someone who messages you has first to solve a cpatcha (an image which shows letters) before the message is shown to you. Older clients who do not support captchas will be unable to message you and receive a notice about this.
- Jule, 11. 2007 -
.: Added obfuscation to the Kad UDP protocol. Kad obfuscation is part of the protocol and is unrelated to the Ed2K-Obfuscation settings
- June, 5. 2007 -
.: Fixed a bug which let Kad try to load its preferences from the old config directory location
- May, 16. 2007 -
.: Added Uyghur translation [translated by Abduqadir]


text:
Daniel Radcliffe Gets Serious About a Girl
A mere month ago, Daniel Radcliffe confessed (to Larry King, of all people!) that he had a girlfriend who he was "very much in love with." The paparazzi love nothing more than love (besides drugs, suicide, kinky sex, adultery, murder, and a whole host of other terrible things), so it was only a matter of […]Read more


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Understanding the NDIS: How the Scheme Works & its Benefits
There are around 4.3 million Australians who have a disability. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is Australia's latest support
Gift Ideas for People with Limited Mobility this Christmas
Christmas is a wonderful time of year for friends and family to get together. While it's a fun and festive holiday, gift giving can be a real
Accessible Entertainment to Experience this Summer in Melbourne
Whether you're a local or just visiting for a weekend, Melbourne in the summertime is a buzzing hub of entertainment for all to enjoy. The city is
Top 7 Hobbies & Activities for People with Limited Mobility
Thousands of Australians are living with limited mobility. Whether it's resulting from an injury or due to a medical condition, having


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Master all call processes in Zendesk
*Take 30 minutes to master call processes in Zendesk*
We'll go through how to get all the data from your calls into Zendesk. We will show you how leading businesses have created office and call center telephone processes that work seamlessly with Zendesk.
It is suitable for a business user of Zendesk who wants to setup or optimise processes involving calls.
We will not waste your time, no death by slideware. We will get straight down to showing you core business processes and their impact on service and cost.
By the time you have finished your coffee, we'll have covered:
You can feel free to bring your questions on any call- or Zendesk-related stuff and we'll answer and show you directly how to deal with each one.
After you have registered, we'll send you an invite to an online meeting. And prior to the time of the actual meeting, we'll send you the access details.
babelforce offers the most powerful and flexible cloud call & contact center for large businesses. Connect any device and create any call handling processes - no coding required.
Join millions of people on Eventbrite.
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Mustang MonthlyHow To Paint Body
How to Install Louvered Side Window Covers
Classic Design Concept's louvered covers for '05-'08 coupe C-pillar windows are easy to install
The '05-'08 Mustang is a sure-fire hit among enthusiasts, so much so that it's almost impossible to own one without another one just like it showing up down the street. Fortunately, there are a myriad of products available for dressing up a new Mustang. Among the most popular -and easiest to install - are the covers for the C-pillar side windows on '05-'08 coupes.
Classic Design Concepts offers the covers in both louvered and non-louvered versions. We prefer the louvers for both their aesthetic appearance and because they provide some rearward visibility in situations when you're pulling into traffic from an angle.
The CDC covers are made from molded urethane, and as such they must be painted to match the Mustang's exterior color by an automotive paint professional. From there, installation is about as easy as it gets. The covers are supplied with 3M acrylic foam tape, isopropyl alcohol packages for cleaning, and Adhesion Promoter to properly bond the tape to the urethane. All you'll need is 80-120 grit sandpaper and masking tape for positioning the covers on the car.


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Bristol Palin continues to reap the benefits of her hard work which includes getting knocked up, having a famous mother her recent appearance on Dancing With The Stars. An appearance she reportedly received $345,000 for.
TMZ is now reporting that Bristol just purchased a home in Arizona for $172,000! And get this, she paid in cash! The 3,900 square foot home, which has 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a 3 car garage, is located in Maricopa, AZ.
It seems Bristol got a great deal on the home as the Huffington Post reports the home was built in 2006 and was bought for a little under $330,000 at the time.
So why purchase a house in Arizona? Well, according to TMZ, Bristol is telling friends she wants to attend Arizona State University, which is just miles away from her home.
The HollywoodLife however has a different take on Bristol's purchase as the site's reporting Bristol's move to Arizona is also so she can be closer to her new boyfriend and fellow Alaskan Giancinto "Gino" Paoletti. Gino is described as a 20-year-old pipeline worker who splits his time between Alaska and Arizona. Gino reportedly also dabbles in real estate and helped Bristol find her new Arizona home, which is not too far from his.
A photo of Gino is below as well as photos of Bristol's new home –


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for Christmas
These Christmas photos shot by Petra Bindel for Elle Decor are perfect. My current favorite green with soft browns and shiny silvers make me excited for the coming month.
Other Stories
2 comments:
Thank you for your comments, I love hearing from you!
Questions, comments or sponsorship inquires, please contact me via the 'contact' link.


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Accessibility Standards Get a Much-Needed Refresh
by Lisa Lindgren
posted on 03-14-2017
Posted by Andrew Kirkpatrick, Group Product Manager for Standards & Accessibility
The last time the federal government updated its accessibility standards for electronic and information technology "Shrek" was dominating the U.S. box office and the Supreme Court was ruling on "hanging chads" in the Florida recount 16 years ago. To keep up with evolving technology, the United States Access Board started working with consumer groups, the disabled community, and technology companies like Adobe in 2006 to update Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure the federal government's electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities.
After almost a decade of work, the board released its "Section 508 refresh" on January 18. In the updated rule, the board addresses improved access for numerous disabilities and takes a significant step towards greater accessibility. The most important element of the refresh is the adoption of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 put forward by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). This is critical because it harmonizes the US government's rules with the rest of the world, making it easier for American businesses like Adobe to develop products that can be used around the globe.
Adobe commends the U.S. Access Board for not going their own way and developing new standards. For many years, Adobe participated in the development of accessibility guidelines, including the WCAG 2.0 recommendations. We believe that harmonizing standards across the globe is the key to expanding accessible content for everyone. Given the fast pace of technology, accessibility regulations need to be consistent.
While the refresh only pertains to federal agencies, its impact will be felt in state and local governments as well because adopting the WCAG 2.0 standard signals to state and local entities that they should adopt the same rules. Universities and many other institutions are expected to follow the government's lead and adopt similar standards in the years to come, which is great news and should speed up adoption.
The new rule also applies WCAG 2.0 standards to electronic documents, which many Adobe products already meet. Adobe has taken many steps to make our products accessible for all users, including adding robust capabilities to many Document Cloud products. Adobe Acrobat DC and Adobe Reader DC support assistive technologies and allow users to create, edit, and read accessible PDF documents.
Agencies now have a year to reach compliance. Agencies have traditionally struggled with Section 508 compliance in the past by not providing adequate staff resources and not providing adequate training. As agencies start to review the rules and determine what steps they need to take, Adobe wants to partner with them to find solutions. Adobe can help agencies adopt software solutions that will meet accessibility standards and produce accessible content. Compliance information is provided for most Adobe products that detail how products comply with existing regulation.
The next big step comes in July when an update to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) will provide additional guidance. The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) and federal agencies will incorporate the updated standards into their acquisition regulations and procurement policies. Once this occurs agencies will be able to work with vendors to determine what the best software solutions are for their needs.
Adobe has made it a mission to develop digital tools that are accessible for all users. We work to develop new accessibility features in our products and programs while encouraging developers to produce rich, engaging content that is also accessible. As a global leader in the software industry, we believe that different abilities should never limit opportunities. We will continue to develop software solutions that can be used by as many people as possible, while working with governments around the world to ensure that people of all abilities are able to access and obtain the government services they need.
Topics: Data & Privacy


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|Product Code
|100% Wool
|Floor Heating Safe
Hampton Arc Teal Hand Tufted and Carved Modern Rug - 12mm Thick
Multicoloured rugs such as this one can add character and style to a room that would otherwise be incomplete. They also create multiple tones within a room that helps match décor to create a colour scheme. Lighter tones combined with darker tones together in a rug also prevent a room becoming unattractively unbalanced in shade. A multicoloured rug is often the focal point of a room, so if you are looking to make a statement, this is the rug for you!
Hand tufted rugs can withstand high traffic and can last a long time as a result. They look like hand-knotted varieties, but are quicker and easier to make, and therefore cheaper, despite being of similar durability.
This is a modern rug, meaning you can add a touch of glamour, style and depth into a room. It can help change the atmosphere and colour scheme, whilst adding practical warmth and comfort underfoot.
As a thin rug, this will work better in high traffic areas as it will lie flush with the floor, and has higher grip for less accidents. The pile of thicker rugs would be ruined in high traffic areas due to large footfall, so a thin rug ensures longevity is not harmed in such environments.
UK Delivery
Here at Rug Mountain we believe in giving you the best possible service for the best possible price. That's why we offer free delivery throughout the UK and Europe on all orders through our website.
We offer one standard delivery method which is a 2/3 working day service where your goods are delivered within this timeframe. But don't be surprised if your delivery arrives before then, we like to get our deliveries out promptly. Over the many years we have worked alongside DPD who offer a great service by making sure you deliveries arrive on time and in one piece. Rug Mountain is based in the UK but this doesn't prevent us offering our 2/3 day delivery all across Europe free of charge. When we dispatch any goods from our warehouse we can make sure all our goods are tracked allowing the end user to know which day the goods arrive. All consignments require a signature accepting receipt of the goods however if nobody is at the property the driver will drop a missed delivery card through your letter box and the item will go to the local depot for collection or we can arrange another delivery day.
Speedy international deliveries now available,
we can delivery all round the globe at low rates!


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Paving Brooklyn
Our Pavers are durable and available in different materials, a range of sizes and many colours.Get a professional look for your Brooklyn property and create a range of patters.
Our pavers are precision engineered, insuring durability that will withstand the test of time.As paving manufacturers, you are saving around 30% to 35% compare with retailers.
Commercial and Residential Paving Supply and Install in Brooklyn
Looking for pavers in Brooklyn? We can customize to meet any of your paving requirements - including pools, path, driveways, walkways, patios, stepping stones, indoor and outdoor areas.
We manufacture our own ranges of concrete pavers and import most of our natural stone directly from the manufacture. Passing on the savings to our customers so contact us now for free expert advice and friendly help.
Concrete Pavers VS Poured Concrete
As being manufacturers, you are saving around 30% to 35% compare with retails price which is very economical. In some cases it's even cost-effective then poured concrete.
We provide texture and sandblast surface which is non-slip. Add value to your project, unlike poured concrete. Poured concrete is guaranteed to crack which will result in an expensive exercise to repair it or in some cases, it can't be repaired.
Concrete pavers will not crack if in case it cracks. it's easy to replace one paver.


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I've had a couple of days off work now, what with the holiday and all,
I've spent a fair amount of time driving back and forth from the mall,
parties, various errands, etc. I tend to listen to news radio (at
least until the commercials start driving me crazy and I have to turn
on my iPod), and I've also caught some of the nightly teevee news. The
lead story, of course, has been the deal and passage of the
Senate healthcare bill.
Now, I've been like, all-health-care-reform, all the time for about 11 months now, and so deep in the weeds that, for me, the big news was that Wyden got a modified version of his "Free Choice" amendment into the bill. Woo Hoo, amIright? But being so deep into things, I rarely gave much thought into the "How's this going to play in Peoria?" argument. Further, since the Senate deal involved a gutting of the most progressive provisions, which has sparked the traditional round of fratricide in Left Blogistan, it certainly has not felt exactly like something to celebrate so much as something to swallow.
So I was a little surprised by the tone of the Emm-Ess-Emm's coverage. It was laudatory, even triumphant. It intoned gravely about the "historic" passage of reform. There were clips of Obama praising the bill. There were the obligatory counter-clips of GOP back-benchers grousing about the bill being Bad For America, but overall, the subtext was this:
Seriously? No mention of the horrible price Lieberdouche exacted for his support? No mention of the humiliation of the Senate leadership by the Conservadems? No "Obama forced to accept crappy-ass compromise" storyline? Nope. Wow. Sure, there was the obligatory mention of the "controversial" public option and its death, but in the context of "Obama Wins" this was relegated to no more than a brief aside. Bear in mind that I'm talking network news, NPR, and local news outlets mostly, not the WaPo or other "insider" publications.
It is, of course, not yet a sure thing that the whole bill will ultimately pass. Byrd is only barely still legally alive, and the thing could fall apart in conference if the House refuses to sufficiently abase itself before the awesomeness and glory of the Senate. If it does, however, this really is a win. It's a win as it is judged by the most important arbiters: the voters who are outside of the beltway and not intimately interested in the details of policy. Yes, I know that reform polls poorly right now; that's to be expected given the controversy and continuous attacks on the proposals. Once there is a final bill enacted into law, the coverage shifts from "beleaguered reform" to "reform triumphs" and the proponents get to take a victory lap in the media touting the great things the reform does contain. (And that's even before the goodies start to get handed out.) I suspect that public opinion will swing back in favor of the reforms, and the majority of people who are not directly impacted will file it away under "Well, that's settled, then, isn't it?" and go back to watching So You Think You Can Dance.
This is not to dismiss the anger of the teabaggers -- I do not doubt that it is real. I also do not doubt that the Democrats will lose seats in 2010. It's a natural year of retrenchment. However, it would have been pure suicide for the Democrats to have embarked on reform and failed to deliver. That would have set the stage for 1994 redux. If reform does pass, economic fundamentals being what they are, the Dems will lose seats in both chambers, though I doubt they'll lose control of either, but they'll lose far fewer than they would have if reform had failed.
If healthcare reform, the linchpin of Obama's and the congressional Democrats' election campaigns, were to fail, it would send the following message: Democrats are incompetent and cannot be trusted to govern. (Which may not be too far from the truth, politically. Insert Will Rogers joke here.) Voters can accept partisanship, but they are not tolerant of incompetence. (See 2006 and Katrina.)
Obama understands this. He understands that the Public Option or any of the other liberal shibboleths could and must be discarded if that is the price to get the vehicle across the finish line. Which is why he never threw his weight behind it or drew any lines in the sand. He is prepared to sign anything Congress gives him, and it's a happy coincidence that the "final" reform bill is looking to be flawed but highly worthwhile. It may not be the eleven-dimensional chess his supporters credited him with, but it is the hallmark of a relatively savvy political operator. If and when he gets to have the big signing ceremony, he will reap the rewards of his pragmatism.


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Feingold's direct involvement in protests and push-back against Walker's 'budget' in Wisconsin position him well. Reaction to events in Wisconsin have helped to define a clear narrative for this year's [Netroots] conference on the vigourous [sic] (and organized) GOP attack on unions, mass progressive push-back, and linking it all back to increased coporate [sic] influence through Citizens United.Huh? Ignore the misspellings and shorthand leftspeak and focus on the factual deficiency: When was Russ Feingold involved — directly or indirectly — in the Wisconsin protests? He's been notably absent. Feingold is an important politico, and he's from Wisconsin, but that's what raises a big question around here: Where has he been? I guess from a distance, it's all just Wisconsin!
Here's FireDogLake trying to connect Feingold to the Wisconsin protests:
With the events in Madison over the past month sparking a new mass movement on the progressive side, Feingold is a good choice. He has involved himself in the Wisconsin labor protests and marched with protesters at one point, and practically every rally in Madison has included some variant of a "Feingold for Governor" sign.Hmm. Meade and I have been going to the Capitol for the last month — Meade has skipped, at most, 2 days, possibly 0 days — and he says he's seen "probably 2" "Feingold for Governor" signs. He has seen a few signs with a "Where's Feingold?" theme. Feingold marched with the protesters? When? I didn't notice that. Googling, I see he walked through the Capitol with some firefighters back on February 18th. Has there been a peep out of him since then?
Sorry. To me, Feingold has been a conspicuous no-show. No show, and no talk. The same is true of President Obama, but he's not out of office and living in Wisconsin, so his no show, no talk is less conspicuous. Somehow, the Netroots see Feingold as an embodiment of Wisconsinosity and that looks good enough in their blurry, woozy vision.


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Discussion Starter • #1 •
vehicle: 1999 Suburban 2500 4x4 gov't issue, 4L80E tranny, 350 Vortec- just rebuilt...and the tranny 'bumps' like it wants to shift hard but doesn't shift, usually in top gear. Also, every once in awhile, it 'shudders' like you're going over those highway 'wake up' strips on the edge of the road, but if I let off the gas and then hit it again, it stops....
Any ideas on the issue here?
Any ideas on the issue here?


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Impedance Issues
Some users seem concerned about whether the impedance differences between various inputs and outputs will cause any problems with their signal path. With regards to connecting unbalanced outputs to balanced inputs, there can be some problems due to reduced level. This occurs when an unbalanced unit with high impedance connects to a balanced unit with low impedance. This is the reason why a separate high impedance Instrument input is supplied on many Focusrite products. On the whole though, this is not going to be a major concern of users of Focusrite units, most of which have high or selectable input impedances - and different (mic/line/inst) inputs for each signal.
The main consideration in relation to impedance for the Focusrite user is to do with microphone output impedance and pre-amp input impedance combination. Having a low input impedance compared to the microphone output impedance, makes the level lower and emphasises the frequency related variations of the microphone. Matching the impedance reduces the level and SNR by 6dB. Having a high input impedance (normally the desired case) produces the greatest level and overall flattest response.
With pre-amps offering selectable impedance, ISA 428/430 MKII and the TwinTrak Pro, the higher impedance values will give an increased amount of top-end, to add an extra clarity and 'shimmer' to recordings.
DIGITAL: In order to fully understand problems and regulations surrounding digital audio, it is necessary to have knowledge of the different formats and their transfer capabilities.
Digital Audio Formats
AES/EBU (Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcasting Union) is a professional format, transmitted with XLR interconnects. Data is sent in blocks of multiple frames, each one having a separate subframe for the left and right channel. Every subframe has sync information (one of three specific 4-bit patterns), signifying that a block or left/right subframe is beginning. These sync words help a decoder establish correct positioning in the data stream, and provide timing information if being used as a clock source for synchronising to other units. Up to 20 bits of audio data are sent per subframe, although the four bits of auxiliary data are now often used to allow 24-bit resolution. 2 channels of digital audio are transmitted on a single XLR cable, with the ability to function at all current sample rates up to 192kHz.
SPDIF (Sony and Philips Digital InterFace) is a domestic digital audio format, transmitted with unbalanced RCA (phono) connectors and coaxial cable, or via TOSLINK (optical). The data format is essentially the same as AES/EBU, however the slightly different usage of just several bits in each data block can make the two interfaces incompatible; some equipment can be very fussy about the data it receives, mainly SPDIF receiving AES. Assuming this isn't the case however (AES device receiving SPDIF), the electrical interfaces can be connected from one to the other (AES/EBU balanced signal at around 5V; SPDIF unbalanced at around 0.5V) fairly simply. For more details, see Connecting SPDIF to AES section below. 2 channels of digital audio are transmitted per single cable, with the ability to function at all current sample rates up to 192kHz.
ADAT is a multi-channel interface, used in professional and domestic applications, that is capable of transmitting up to eight channels of digital audio along a single wire. The interfacing cable is optical and known as " lightpipe" or " TOSLINK". ADAT can cope with sample rates up to 96kHz and 24-bit resolution audio data.
Connecting SPDIF and AES
As mentioned above, the difference in formats is small. One bit at the start of each data block defines what the format is, professional or consumer, and this also decides how the digital audio stream will be read by the decoder. The majority of the code for both formats is identical. However, there is an overlap where 4 bits at the start of a data block used for de-emphasis in AES/EBU, are used for SCMS (copy protection) in SPDIF. This means that SPDIF devices sometimes won't read AES format, but the other way round works more often than not. The only difference then is to do with the nature of the electrical interfaces, going from an unbalanced RCA phono connector to a balanced XLR, and the level of the signal.
Some interfaces which only have SPDIF i/o's will sometimes happily connect to AES devices. One example of this was discovered when we at Focusrite linked an Mbox with The Liquid Channel; in this case, the SPDIF signal from the Mbox could be used as a clock source for The Liquid Channel, which in turn successfully sent a digital (AES) signal into the SPDIF input of the Mbox. Simply connecting the units together with a pair of XLR to phono cables should be sufficient in this instance.
However, it's impossible to guarantee whether any specific setup will work without testing it first so if unsure, contact the Manufacturer of your equipment. In addition, even if one setup works, an identical arrangement in another location may not. The best and most secure solution is to buy a converter, which can be picked up from Neutrik for around £30. This will allow any consumer or professional digital interfaces to be linked together; a Liquid Channel could be connected to a soundcard with only SPDIF inputs, and a TrackMaster with only SPDIF outputs could send a digital signal to an interface with only AES inputs.
The A/D card for the TrakMaster, VM Pro, TT Pro and Penta can output professional format code through a phono ouput, thereby allowing full compatibility with an AES interface. A 'jumper' as circled in blue on this picture of the A/D card defines what format the code will be in. Leaving the jumper on, makes the format professional. Taking it off, makes it consumer.
If sending audio digitally between devices in a studio arrangement, the main area that causes problems and confusion is surrounding Clocking Regulations. Here's a guide:
When using multiple pieces of digital audio gear, it is necessary to have one clock source for all, so that every audio data stream has identical time divisions. Failure to set up a single clock source can cause audio information to be read at incorrect speeds, leading to the occurrence of audible clicks and glitches. To avoid this, units must be synchronised or 'locked' to a common reference, which is known as word clock. (This can also be a video reference, used mostly in post-production studios.) An external generator can send a clock to all units if numerous digital devices are in use or, in smaller applications, the clock from a single digital audio data stream can be used to synchronise to the receiving device. In this latter case, the sending device is the 'master' and the receiver is the 'slave'. Any units that have digital outputs can become the 'master', without having to have a word clock output, as all digital formats (ADAT, SPDIF and AES/EBU) have timing information in the data stream.
So, when should your device be the 'master'?
In applications where there is one sending device; if a VoiceMaster Pro is processing a mic/line signal, converting it into a digital format and sending it to a recording platform (e.g. Pro Tools); that sending device can be the 'master'. This is achieved by setting the receiving device to synchronise to its digital input (in Pro Tools, opening the 'session setup' window will allow this configuration to be selected). You must ensure that the correct digital format (ADAT, SPDIF or AES) has been chosen to 'lock' to, and that the bit depth and sample rates are identical. When using this arrangement, the device's internal crystals will be generating the system clock (at whatever sample rate is selected) so there should be no BNC (coaxial) cable connected to the word clock input of the A/D card. When a cable is attached to the EXT WCLK INPUT then the internal clock will be bypassed and the unit will attempt to lock to the incoming signal.
And when should you 'slave' to an external source?
When there are two or more devices sending digital audio data; if an OctoPre and MixMaster are both transmitting digital audio streams to a recording platform (e.g. Pro Tools); they must be synchronised with each other by 'locking' to an external device's clock. This can come from a separate word clock generator or the word clock output of a digital device (DAT machine or digital mixing console), and must be connected to the word clock input of both units via a BNC cable. With the OctoPre, in addition to connecting a cable to the EXT WCLK INPUT, the EXT SYNC button on the rear panel must also be pressed for a 'lock' with an external device to be reached. Once again, all devices should be set to identical sample rates and bit depths.
The TT Pro is different because it features D/A in addition to A/D conversion, so specific applications will require specific word clock solutions:
Additional clocking issues with the TT Pro
The TT Pro has more flexibility since it has a built in D/A as well as the optional A/D card. Hence the digital input and digital output may need to be synchronised together. If just using the D/A converter and sending analogue audio, no clocking issues will arise, as the TT Pro will synchronise to the embedded word clock in the SPDIF signal it receives using a phase locked loop. However, if wishing to lock to an additional unit (an A/D converter with a basic word clock spec. for example), a reference can be sent from the TT Pro's word clock output to an additional device. The TT Pro D/A converter does not generate word clock when no digital signal is being received.
When using the A/D card alone, the internal crystals provide the desired sample rate unless an external clock source is fed to the WRD CLCK INPUT, in which case the device will lock to the external 'master'.
If the A/D card and D/A converter are both in use, the ideal clocking solution in terms of signal performance and noise issues is to link the word clock output of the D/A converter to the word clock input of the A/D card. This is done by connecting a short BNC cable between the two. If using the TT Pro with a recording platform such as Pro Tools (where a digital signal is being sent from the TT Pro to the computer audio interface and the digital output of the computer interface is being fed into the TT Pro for latency free monitoring), the software must be set to lock to its internal clock not the SPDIF signal it is receiving from the TT Pro. If the software is set to lock to the SPDIF input, which is often the default when the SPDIF input is selected for recording, the interface will become confused and high amplitude noise may occur. However, when using an additional item of equipment (synth/DAT machine...etc.) to feed the digital input of the TT Pro, whilst the digital output of the TT Pro feeds the computer interface (with Pro Tools for example), the software should be set to lock to the SPDIF input.
How to set up Latency Free Monitoring
The Latency Free Monitoring feature on various Platinum products enables delay problems, caused by attempting to listen to a signal being recorded after it has passed through a computer's sound card, to be eliminated. These delays can be fairly substantial due to the digital conversion and processing taking place, making it difficult to sing or play in time with the pre-recorded tracks. By sending the output of the soundcard to the Platinum device, a mix of the pre-recorded material and the mono or stereo signal being recorded can be listened to on headphones or external monitors. Here's how to correctly set up the system:
Connecting the outputs of the DAW (from a soundcard for example) to the balanced TRS jack monitor inputs on the rear panel of the Platinum device (TT Pro/VM Pro) sends the signal direct to the monitor outputs, and to an adjustable 'headphone mix' in the latency free monitoring section (playback). The amount of this pre-recorded mix and the mic/line/inst. input(s) to the TT Pro (i.e. whatever's being recorded) can be mixed using the crossfade-style dial labelled 'headphone mix'. Rotating the dial fully anticlockwise, to 'INPUT', will mean that just the signal being recorded using the TT Pro will be heard. Turning the dial towards 'PLAYBACK' will increase the amount of the pre-recorded signal (from the monitor inputs) on the headphone mix. In addition, the amount of FX (i.e. reverb from a separate device - using the FX send and return) on the headphone signal can be controlled with the 'FX Level' dial, from wet (maximum FX) to dry (no FX); this features on the TT Pro and VM Pro.
On the TT Pro, this headphone mix is also fed to two balanced TRS jack outputs on the rear panel, for the option of sending to an external headphone distribution amplifier. If the 'headphones to monitor' switch is engaged, the headphone mix will be sent to the monitor outputs, if not, simply whatever signal feeds the monitor inputs will be going direct to the monitor outputs. As the VM Pro has no "headphones to monitor" switch, the monitors can only be fed the signal coming from the monitor inputs; plugging in the headphones in order to set-up a zero latency headphone mix will mute the monitor outputs.
Metering and Decibel levels
There are two main metering methods in audio, one that displays the average level of the signal and one that shows the peak level. The former is called a VU (Volume Unit) meter, and was primarily used when recording to analogue tape. As a result, the VU Meter's values are designed to help achieve an 'optimal' level to tape, displaying a scale from -20 to +3dB where the last 3dB are in red. 0dB on the VU meter corresponds to 4dBu. Just to clarify, dBu is a voltage reference point equal to 0.775Vrms. This reference was originally labelled dBv (lower case) but was often confused with dBV (uppercase) so it was changed to dBu (for un-terminated).
dBV is another voltage reference point equal to 1Vrms, which some engineers find easier than 0.775Vrms and is used on the -10dBV unbalanced outputs on the Platinum range.
It's worth mentioning that dBu can cause confusion sometimes when given as the scale on a threshold for a compressor (as on the MixMaster for example), as users may be used to having values from 'full scale' (maximum level, 0dBFS, digital clipping point) downwards (-40dBor so). In dBu, this will be marked on the dial as around +20dB down to -20dB.
The other type of metering was introduced because VU meters aren't ideal for displaying the peak level, something that's crucial in situations where overloading must be avoided, when broadcasting or converting to digital for example. The PPM (Peak Programme Meter) scale varies depending on the country. In the UK, there are no decibel markings, instead there are indications from 0 to 7. Most marks have 4dB between them apart from 0 and 1, which have 6dB, and 7 and 8 (8 not displayed), which have 2dB. On a UK PPM meter, 4 relates to 0dBu. The scale used for digital conversion and more commonly with processors today (Platinum products for example), is the dBFS ('full scale') range. This provides 0dBFS as the threshold for digital clipping. Above this, the signal cannot be given a coded value and will clip, causing the audio to distort. An O/L LED is normally provided to indicate when the limit has been exceeded. Focusrite meters generally range from 0 down to -20 or -30dBFS.
MOST PLATINUM PRODUCTS HAVE METERING WITH A dBFS SCALE (ALL EXCEPT TONEFACTORY, VOICEMASTER AND COMPOUNDER, WHICH HAVE VU).
Simultaneous use of Analogue and Digital outputs
When using Focusrite products, the analogue and digital outputs can be used simultaneously.
HOWEVER, using simultaneous digital outputs on the ISA 430 MkI and Platinum MixMaster digital cards is not recommended as it will damage the transmitter IC.
REMAINING FAQs
International Transfer and Fuse changing
VM Pro and OctoPre (only) have two different product versions, a 110/120V version and a 220/230V version. Hence a 110/120V unit can be used in US/Japan, with the correct primary tap connected, but cannot be used in Europe (for example) unless a step-up transfomer is purchased and used. There is no cost-effective way to modify VM Pro's or OctoPre's to allow 110/120V units to run on 220-240v mains supply or vice versa.
All other Focusrite Platinum units except these two models can operate as 110/120/220/230V units, and the user can switch the voltage simply by rotating the external fuse holder. This can easily be done by using a very small screwdriver to lift the fuse holder away from the rear panel, and choosing the required voltage text on the fuse holder cover to be facing the right way (aligned with the arrow). When "120v" is positioned so that the arrow points to it, the unit is set to 120v and suitable for use in the USA. The user will of course need to obtain a mains cable of the correct type to match local plug format, and the fuse value must be correctly set BEFORE switching the unit on!
The Red3 and Blue 230 require a special transformer for operation at 220V AC and a very special transformer for operation at 100V AC.


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Cleaning It Up to Speed It Up!
When your computer seems like it's running in quick-sand it may definitely be time for a clean-up; but where do you start? What clean-up programs should you run? Which files can be removed? Could it be a hardware issue? Does it have a virus?
These are all legimate questions and at Sytek we can provide the answers. Our Compuer Technicians have years of experience cleaning up the software portions of all-types of computers as well as installing hardware upgrades when needed. When pop-ups become too much, when response times are far too slow, when applications refuse to open, or when "blue screens of death" become the norm - turn to Sytek.
Advanced Diagnostic & Repair Services - $65.00
Our technicians can provide the following*:
- Find / Correct the Cause of Crashes, Lockups, Unusual Slowness, & Internet Connectivity Problems
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- Correct Potential Hardware Conflicts / Failures if Needed (additional fees may apply)
- Remove Viruses, Worms, & Spyware
- Perform Physical Clean-Ups (Blow / Dust-Out Hardware)
*We repair all Desktop Computers (no Apple / Mac)
*No Hardware Repair on Laptops
Hardware Installation - $25.00 plus Parts
A Sytek Technician will:
- Install Modem, Network Card, CD ROM & Other Hardware
- Perform Updates


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Mr. Carpal: "Are they good docs? I don't want to see a bad one."
My inner voice: "No, you dipshit. They're all dangerously incompetent. WTF would I knowingly refer you to a bad one?"
A Blog detailing the insanity of my medical practice and the stupidity of everyday life.
"They were listed as the top three surgeons with the most malpractice lawsuits pending, Mr. Carpal, but they've won all their previous cases so I'm sure they'll do a fine job."
"I don't know what their surgical skills are like, but they're damn good at tree surfing. That counts, right?"
I have to be very careful when reading a bunch of your posts at once. Has anyone ever died from laughing too hard? ;-)
word verification: onift
Because you don't like him?
Because they've read too many doctor blogs and are hoping you'll either look guilty or shocked.
Grumpy, I think they read my blog on "bad doctors" and got nervous. Sorry for making your patients paranoid!
Little Calf Creamery. Delicious homemade ice cream and food in Thousand Oaks!


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Product Description
Premium Grade Hi-End AVLink HDMI Cable
ATC Tested V1.4 with High Speed Ethernet.
Features Include:
- 192 Braided 24 AWG Heavy Duty Quad Shielded Cable
- Full 1080p High Definition
- 24k Gold Plated Contacts
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- Low Noise, Low Loss Digital Interconnect & Ethernet.


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Champions of Old Korvosa
I had been holding out for a miracle, but it looks like this campaign will not be returning from hiatus. I'm officially ending this campaign. I really wish I could have run it through to the end, but it's time to move on.
I had a blast GMing this campaign. I certainly learned a thing or three about running an Adventure Path. Hopefully I'll be able to run the next one to completion.
Due to the fact that this campaign is over, I have no plans to fill in the missing campaign log entries with details beyond the synopses.
I may occasionally make an update or two to the other sections of this site, mainly so that I can have a place to post things I might use in other campaigns, until such a time as I actually start one up again.
Thanks for reading, and happy gaming!
The campaign is still on hiatus. I am reservedly hopeful that we will be able to restart this campaign in January 2014, possibly with a few new players.
I continue to tinker with the site, particularly after the Obsidian Portal site redesign and loss of the "Items" tab. I am also going back to fill in the details of adventure logs that currently only have a synopsis. Finally, I am occasionally updating a few other things here and there, such as adding new spells I intend to add to this (or a future) campaign.
[This is an out-of-game post.]
I have to announce that I must put the campaign on temporary hiatus. This is due to several factors in both my personal and professional lives. I am hopeful that we'll be able to start up again sometime in fall 2013.
We also say farewell to Mark, player of McGregor. Thanks for sticking with this game as long as you were able!
—Your Humble GM
Synopsis: The party found Tirana's ritual chamber, and attempted to stop the ritual to fully activate the Seven Swords of Sin! But Tirana wasn't alone— sinspawn, a dark naga, stone giants, and a former ally of the party stood in the way!
Synopsis: Venturing further into the Chambers of Truth, the party found a machine to recycle dead experimental subjects, three teleportaion portals, and an underground lake in which stalked dangerous creatures.
Synopsis: The party ventured deeper into the Chambers of Truth, encountering several more bizarre guardians, including an invisible stalker, a room trapped with fire, and more sinspawn.
Synopsis: Continuing their exploration of the Chambers of Truth, the party found a chapel not dedicated to a god, a strange passageway to nowhere, and an ancient scrying device. They also solved a riddle involving an angel and a demon, recruited a strange ally, and fought an Osiriani mummy.
Synopsis: The party used a strange contraption they found in a room they called the "Hall of Heads" to interrogate several long-dead characters from ages past… and one from their own past!
Synopsis: The adventurers continued to explore the vaults below Kaer Maga. They explored some of the living quarters in the complex, fought hideous creatures formed from sin itself, and rescued the party wizard from his own curiosity.